This article has been written by Emily Campbell, a partner of the Alabama Farm to ECE Coalition.
Farm to ECE activities are successful with a team effort, especially when families are involved! Engaging families in your Farm to ECE activities, whether it is gardening, food and farm education, or local food purchasing, can be beneficial for your ECE program, as well as the families and children you serve. This blog post includes tips for involving families in your activities this spring!
Share Information About Farm to ECE with Families
Ensure families are aware of the activities their child will be participating in by sending a letter home! Our Farm to ECE Family Letter Template can help you share:
- What is Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE)
- How Farm to ECE benefits children ages 0-5
- Ideas for incorporating Farm to ECE activities at home
- How families can get involved at your program
Invite Families to Assist with Activities
Families can lend a helping hand with organizing and hosting various Farm to ECE activities! If you have a garden, families can assist with watering, planting, fertilizing, and many more tasks when they arrive for drop off or pick up.
ECE programs can also ask families to donate materials, which can help in reducing the cost of starting and maintaining a garden or other Farm to ECE activities. Some family members may have gardening or farming expertise and may be willing to provide even more support!
Incorporate Culture into Farm to ECE Activities
Celebrate the culture of the families and staff of your program by incorporating them into your activities! Ask families and staff about their favorite foods and meals that they like to serve at home and find ways to bring them into the classroom.
Encourage families and staff to share any stories or customs from their culture around food and share them with the children you serve. This helps families and staff feel more involved and supported in their ECE program!
Having families involved can help your Farm to ECE activities go even further. By involving the families you serve, you may even encourage them to start serving fresh local foods at home!
